The Best Small Food and Culture Town in America Spans Just 2.5 Square Miles — Featuring 27 Wineries, Exciting New Bars and Restaurants, and a Stunning Luxury Hotel

Los Olivos comes alive after 6 a.m. This year, when the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, part of Auberge Resorts Collection, opened its café serving espresso from 6 every morning, Felix Coffee Shop's hours became a hot topic in this 2.5-square-mile community nestled in California’s Santa Ynez Valley.

With 27 wineries in Los Olivos, there’s practically a tasting room every 0.01 square mile. But there's no need to drive, as the main street, Grand Avenue, is just two blocks from the new hotel. To enhance your wine experience — mainly pinot noirs and chardonnays flourishing in the valley’s cool microclimates — a selection of fantastic new restaurants has helped earn Los Olivos the title of Dinogo’s inaugural best food and culture town in the U.S.

Daisy Ryan, a native of Santa Ynez Valley, is the chef putting Los Olivos on the culinary map. Five years ago, she and her husband, Greg Ryan, launched the now-Michelin-starred Bell's in nearby Los Alamos. Since then, they've transformed Los Olivos with the addition of Bar Le Côte, an atmospheric seafood restaurant just a stroll from the wineries, and The Other Room, a vibrant beer hall. 'Witnessing the attention this area has garnered over the last five years humbles us daily,' she shares. 'It’s truly special to return to my roots and highlight the amazing qualities of this place.'

Everything you need to know about Los Olivos — from its cuisine to its culture — showcasing why it stands out as one of America's finest small towns.

Food and Culture

Los Olivos caught our attention not because of its wineries, but thanks to The Inn at Mattei's Tavern, Bar Le Côte, The Other Room, and Gin's. The influx of talent choosing to settle in Los Olivos is truly remarkable — especially with Auberge Resorts Collection, a top name in California luxury hospitality, and Ryan, honored as one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2020 and a former chef at NYC's fine-dining gems like Per Se and Gramercy Tavern.

As Ermoni Best, the sommelier at Inn at Mattei's Tavern, once remarked to T+L, 'This place feels like Napa did 50 years ago.' It’s unlikely to ever transform into Napa, as the quaint community is small enough to prevent that from happening — and residents prefer to avoid an influx of five-star hotels, Michelin three-star restaurants, and grandiose wineries. Visit now to savor the food and drinks, explore, and relax before more people discover this charming 2.5-square-mile town in central California.

The Optimal Times to Visit

Any time is a great time to visit Los Olivos, but spring and fall offer the most pleasant weather. August is the hottest month, while December through March brings cooler temperatures. Spring features refreshing 70-degree days and the onset of rosé season, when vineyards unveil their new rosés. Danielle Laudon Ruse, VP of marketing for Santa Ynez Valley, particularly enjoys fall. 'It's the season when wine lovers can witness a touch of harvest magic and see the vineyards transform with changing leaves,' she explains. 'Days remain beautifully warm, while the evenings cool down, making alfresco dining still very enjoyable as the season shifts.'

Laudon Ruse also highlights that the Taste of Santa Ynez Valley event occurs every fall — this year from September 28 to October 1, featuring a “multi-chef, multi-course dinner served at long communal tables on the lawn of the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern,” she adds.

Things to Experience

Enjoy some wine.

'For a long time, when you thought of California wine country, Napa and Sonoma were the first places that came to mind,' Ryan explains. 'People certainly recognize Santa Barbara County wines, but an increasing number are discovering that it’s not merely the younger sibling of wine regions — the wines crafted here are world-class, remarkably intriguing, innovative, and expertly made.' Alongside the 27 wineries in town, there are numerous tasting rooms and vineyards throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern even offers a Meet the Maker program, allowing guests to tour vineyards and sample wines with the vineyard owners and winemakers.

Support local businesses.

In Los Olivos, locally owned shops are the name of the game, whether you’re looking for clothing, home goods, or wine. Check out our shopping recommendations below.

Accommodations

The Inn at Mattei's Tavern, part of Auberge Resorts Collection

Originally opened in 1886 as the seven-room Central Hotel for Pacific Coast Railroad travelers, the Inn at Mattei's Tavern was reimagined in April 2023 as an Auberge Resorts Collection hotel. This 64-room resort honors its history: when guests arrive for dinner at The Tavern, they check in at the same stage office where Felix and Lucy Mattei, the original proprietors, once welcomed visitors. In the 1910s, when they sought to expand their kitchen, they enlisted Gin Luang Gin. Now, an alfresco bar, elegantly painted white, sits opposite a cedar barn and a red-roofed water tower named Gin's, offering pan-Asian bites and local wines on tap.

Dining and Drinking Options

Stolpman Vineyards

Among the wineries in Los Olivos and Santa Ynez, Stolpman Vineyards has arguably made the most significant national impact. Their small-batch natural wines include the popular carbonic sangiovese known as Love You Bunches, along with a delightful chenin blanc pet’nat, both available at Stolpman Fresh Garage. Additionally, you can taste Stolpman’s estate offerings — such as syrah, roussanne, and grenache — on the patio adjacent to Fresh Garage.

The Other Room

'This was something we’ve always wanted to create,' Ryan shares about The Other Room, a beer and wine bar she and Greg launched in 2022. Regulars at The Back Room in Solvang — 'we’re avid beer enthusiasts' — they opened The Other Room as a personal retreat. 'We aimed to establish a spot where we’d enjoy a beer or a glass of wine ourselves. Plus, we emphasize offering wines from various regions, especially since the tasting rooms mainly feature local selections,' she adds. Notably, it’s open on Tuesdays, a rare find in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Bar Le Côte

Opened by the Ryans in 2021, Bar Le Côte is a charming seafood restaurant that embodies California cool in the heart of town. Bright green and white walls adorned with poppy art set the scene, while the menu highlights local produce (this summer, the olive oil cake features strawberries from nearby Finley Farms). Staying true to California’s coastal vibe, they also serve Santa Barbara urchin and Tomales Bay oysters.

Story of Soil

Here’s an intriguing fact about the wineries in Santa Ynez Valley: the proportion of women-owned wineries is notably higher than the national average. ('Santa Barbara County has nearly double the national average of 10 percent, making it a leader in women winemakers per capita among wine regions globally,' reports Visit Santa Ynez Valley.) One of these wineries is Story of Soil, led by winemaker Jessica Gasca. The tasting room is as delightful and welcoming as the syrah, pinot noir, and sauvignon blanc crafted by Gasca.

Shopping Destinations

Los Olivos General Store

A central gem in town, the Los Olivos General Store offers every cozy California trinket you could imagine. Visit for the candles and pottery, and linger for local kitchen treasures like blood orange olive oil from Los Olivos Olive Oil Company and sage blossom honey from Santa Ynez.

Avec Moi Decor

Ever wonder how people in Los Angeles seem to have just stepped out of a magazine cover in an outfit fit for a Nancy Meyers film? The secret lies in shopping at places like Avec Moi Decor during those playful weekend getaways.

Getting There

The nearest airport to Los Olivos is the Santa Barbara Airport, just a 40-minute drive away. Alternatively, you can reach Los Olivos from Los Angeles by flying into LAX and then driving north for two and a half hours (130 miles). If you’re considering a coastal road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco (or vice versa), Los Olivos makes for a convenient stop. After a picturesque drive to Santa Barbara on CA-1, travelers can venture inland to visit Los Olivos before returning to the coast, picking up Highway 1 in Pismo Beach.